Sanders Plays In Front Of His Biggest Crowd

Volusia sports

December 7, 1997|By Peter Thomson of the Sentinel Staff

The next-to-last image I have of Bethune-Cookman receiver Crayton Sanders, who died in a car accident last Sunday on Interstate 95 while returning to school from the Thanksgiving holiday, was of the sophomore wideout proudly raising the Most Valuable Player trophy he earned for his performance in the Wildcats' Florida Classic contest against Florida A&M two weeks ago at the Citrus Bowl.

The final sound bite this journalist experienced with Sanders, who had eight receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns in the 52-35 loss to the Rattlers, was an amusing comment made by Sanders in reaction to a question I posed after the postgame ceremonies.

Sanders, who came into the contest with 13 catches and no touchdowns in his first 10 games this season, made a pair of spectacular receptions before the record-breaking crowd at the Citrus Bowl.

Sanders secured a pass that was deflected in the end zone by FAMU defensive back Boris Jackson for his first touchdown, which cut the FAMU lead to 31-21 with 10:11 left in the third.

Early in the final period, Sanders made what probably was the catch of the night when he split two FAMU defenders and turned the catch into a 37-yard touchdown reception that pulled the Wildcats to 31-28 with 10:55 left in regulation.

Understand that James Adderley was the go-to receiver all season for B-CC.

As much as Adderley was frustrated a year ago, when Antwuan Wyatt was primary wideout, Sanders must have felt a little frustration with his scant receiving numbers this season.

At least until the FAMU game.

As we walked off the Citrus Bowl turf, I half-jokingly asked Sanders where he had been all season. A broad smile evolved on his face, and he told me that he just must be one of those athletes who needs a big crowd to perform in front of.

There will be no more interviews with Crayton Sanders.

But more importantly, a son, a friend, a teammate and a member of the Bethune-Cookman College community will be dearly missed.

''That last game brought the champion out in him,'' said B-CC head coach Alvin Wyatt, who along with college President Oswald P. Bronson drove to Miami on Monday to offer their condolences to the Sanders family. ''What Crayton was able to accomplish that night is what we've been preaching to our kids all season. It was a good way to go out.''

John Osborne, who coached Sanders along with six other B-CC players at Miami's Norland High, including Jimmy Williams and Frank Grayson, who were in the car accident with Sanders, agreed with Wyatt's assessment.

''I saw him play against FAMU,'' said Osborne, who was a standout defensive back for the Wildcats between 1970-74. ''He did some things on the field that showed me he had arrived.''

Tragedy is often indiscriminate.

Accepting this loss and explaining it to those closest to Sanders has been gut-wrenching.

''God has not put me in a position to judge things like this,'' said Osborne, a deeply religious man. But how can you not wonder why it always seems to be the good ones that are taken away when you have some others out there running the streets ripping and robbing.

''We all have to wonder why God takes the good ones. There was no doubt in my mind that Crayton would have been a productive member of society.''

Funeral services for Sanders will be held on Monday at the New Birth Baptist Church on 132nd Street in Miami.

''He will be buried in his uniform that he wore against FAMU,'' said Wyatt, who also will retire Sanders' No. 80 jersey until his class graduates from B-CC. ''And his mom will ge given his white (away) jersey at the service.''

Grieving is healed only by the passage of time. Any attempt to understand why Sanders was taken is futile.

''I told my players that there will come that time when we all will have to go,'' Wyatt said. ''And I told them that when I pass on, Crayton will be there to greet me.''

The lone explanation for the loss Osborne can offer came from a member of his church.

''I was told after this accident that if God was to go out and pick flowers, why would God want to pick any weeds?''

What I will remember most will not be how B-CC almost beat archrival FAMU in the Florida Classic.

Nov. 22, 1997 will remain as the night Crayton Sanders finally found the crowd he wanted to play for.